If you’re looking for a festive treat that’s easy to make and absolutely delightful, let me introduce you to my favorite Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe. These bars have the perfect balance of buttery sweetness and a soft, tender crumb topped with creamy frosting and colorful sprinkles—making them ideal for holiday gatherings or cozy nights in. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll want to keep it in your holiday rotation every year!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: You don’t need fancy tools or complicated steps—just simple mixing and baking.
- Perfect Texture: Soft, chewy bars with a tender crumb that aren’t too cakey or too dense.
- Festive and Fun: That creamy frosting topped with colorful sprinkles instantly screams holiday cheer.
- Family Favorite: My family goes crazy for these, especially with a warm cup of cocoa on a chilly winter night.
Ingredients You’ll Need
All the ingredients in this Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe are pantry staples, but each one plays a special role in creating that buttery, soft cookie base and light, fluffy frosting. Let me share some tips on picking the best ones so your bars turn out perfect every time.
- Butter: I always use unsalted butter so I can control the salt in the recipe better, but salted works fine too—just skip extra salt if you do.
- Granulated sugar: This adds the classic sweetness and helps create that slight crust on top of the cookie layer.
- Brown sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle depth of flavor that’s hard to beat.
- Egg: Helps bind everything together—make sure it’s at room temperature for easier mixing.
- Almond extract: Just a little kick here brightens up the flavor and gives that special holiday cookie taste.
- Vanilla extract: Essential for a warm, comforting base flavor you’ll recognize instantly.
- Baking powder: This keeps the bars light and gives a bit of lift without puffing them up too much.
- All-purpose flour: The structural base for the cookies—fresh flour makes the best texture.
- Cornstarch: A secret weapon I learned that makes these bars so soft and tender; trust me, it’s worth adding!
- Salt: Just a pinch to balance all the sweetness.
- Powdered sugar: For the frosting, giving you that smooth, creamy texture and sweet finish.
- Heavy cream: Makes your frosting silky and fluffy, unlike milk or half-and-half, which won’t give the same richness.
- Christmas sprinkles: The fun, colorful touch that completes these festive bars and brings smiles.
Variations
One of the things I love about this Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe is how easy it is to personalize. Whether you want to go nut-free, add a twist of citrus, or make it vegan-friendly, there’s room to experiment and make it your own.
- Gluten-Free Version: I swapped all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend once and it still turned out delightfully soft—just make sure it includes xanthan gum for structure.
- Citrus Twist: Adding a teaspoon of lemon or orange zest to the dough adds a fresh, zesty flavor that pairs beautifully with the vanilla frosting.
- Nutty Upgrade: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter before baking for some extra crunch—my kids totally loved this variant!
- Vegan Adaptation: Replace butter with vegan margarine and use a flax egg in place of the regular egg; I did this once to please a friend, and it was a hit!
How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Oven
First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F. Then grab an 8×8-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper or foil—whatever you prefer for easy cleanup and to help lift out those bars when they’re done. I always lightly grease the parchment too, just to be safe.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large bowl, beat together ½ cup butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons brown sugar until it’s smooth and creamy. This part takes about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed. The texture here is important—it makes your bars tender and gives you that lovely crumb texture.
Step 3: Add the Egg and Extracts
Next, add in your egg, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and ¼ teaspoon almond extract. I love the combination of vanilla and almond—it brings back warm holiday memories for me. Mix just until combined, you don’t want to overbeat here.
Step 4: Mix in the Dry Ingredients
Now sift together 1¼ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Slowly fold these into your wet mixture until you barely see any flour—overmixing can make your bars tough, so keep it gentle!
Step 5: Bake the Cookie Layer
Spread the dough evenly into your prepared pan. Bake for about 15 minutes at 350°F. Don’t worry if the center looks a bit raw when you take it out—that’s totally normal! The bars finish cooking as they cool, giving you that perfect soft texture without drying out.
Step 6: Make the Frosting
While the bars are baking (or cooling), whip together 4 tablespoons softened butter and 1 cup powdered sugar until smooth. Then add 3 tablespoons heavy cream and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and beat until your frosting is fluffy and light. I love using heavy cream here—it makes a noticeable difference versus milk or water.
Step 7: Frost and Decorate
Spread the frosting evenly over the warm (but not hot) cookie bars. Then sprinkle with your favorite Christmas sprinkles for that festive touch. If you prefer softer frosting, slice and serve right away, but chilling for 20-30 minutes lets the frosting set beautifully for cleaner slices.
Pro Tips for Making Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room-temp butter and egg helps the batter mix smoothly and results in a tender texture.
- Don’t Overmix Flour: When adding dry ingredients, mix just until combined to avoid dense bars.
- Use Parchment Paper: This makes removing the bars from the pan way easier and keeps them intact.
- Frost While Warm: Frosting bars while they’re still warm but not hot helps it spread smoothly without melting completely.
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Garnishes
I usually keep it simple with classic Christmas sprinkles—red, green, and white little balls and stars—that add just the right amount of crunch and festive looks. Sometimes, I like to add edible glitter or crushed candy canes for a peppermint twist that really impresses guests!
Side Dishes
These bars go beautifully with a warm drink like peppermint hot chocolate or spiced apple cider. For parties, I love serving them alongside a cheese platter or fresh fruit to balance the sweetness.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I like to cut the bars into festive shapes using cookie cutters after chilling, then arrange them on a holiday-themed platter with sprigs of rosemary or pine for that cozy evergreen vibe. It’s an easy way to elevate presentation without extra fuss.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days; after that, I put them in the fridge for up to a week. The frosting stays nice and creamy, though chilling makes it firmer—perfect if you want less mess when serving.
Freezing
I’ve frozen these bars a few times for holiday prep. After baking and frosting, I cut them into squares, freeze on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. They keep well for up to 3 months. When ready, thaw overnight in the fridge for best texture.
Reheating
To enjoy leftover bars warm, I pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds. This softens the frosting and brings back that fresh-baked feeling. Just be careful not to overheat or the frosting might melt completely.
FAQs
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Can I use margarine instead of butter in this Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe?
While butter gives the bars their rich flavor and tender texture, you can use margarine in a pinch, especially if you need a dairy-free version. Just make sure it’s stick margarine (not spreadable) for best results. Expect a slightly different flavor and texture, but the bars will still be tasty.
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Why does the center of my bars look underbaked after 15 minutes?
This is totally normal! These bars are meant to finish baking as they cool, which keeps them soft and chewy instead of drying them out. If you bake longer, they may turn out too firm. Just let them rest and you’ll get perfect texture.
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Can I make this recipe ahead for a holiday party?
Absolutely! Bake and frost the bars a day or two ahead of time. Store them in the fridge to keep the frosting fresh, then bring to room temp before serving for the best flavor and texture.
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What’s the purpose of cornstarch in this recipe?
Cornstarch adds tenderness to baked goods by softening the protein structure of the flour, which is why these bars come out extra soft and crumbly rather than dense or chewy.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe has become a staple in my holiday baking because it’s just so simple yet irresistibly delicious. I love how quickly it comes together and how much joy it brings to family and friends at any festive gathering. If you try it, I promise you’ll nail that perfect soft cookie bar with creamy frosting and a sprinkle of Christmas magic on top—just like I did the first time I baked it for my holiday guests. Give it a go—you’re going to love it!
Print
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Christmas sugar cookie bars offer a festive twist on a classic treat, featuring a soft, buttery cookie base topped with a creamy vanilla frosting and decorated with colorful holiday sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these bars are easy to bake in one pan and deliver all the flavors of traditional sugar cookies in a convenient bar form.
Ingredients
Cookie Base:
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp salt
Frosting:
- 4 tbsp butter, salted or unsalted, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Christmas sprinkles, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy, creating a fluffy base for the cookie.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, making sure the mixture is well combined before adding dry ingredients.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Gently fold in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and cornstarch just until the flour mixture is barely incorporated to avoid toughening the dough.
- Spread and Bake: Evenly spread the cookie batter into the lined baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes; the center might look slightly underbaked, but it will set as it cools.
- Prepare Frosting: While the cookie base bakes, whip the softened butter and powdered sugar together in a large bowl until smooth. Then add heavy cream and vanilla extract, whipping until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Frost and Decorate: Once the cookie base has cooled slightly, spread the frosting over it evenly. Sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles for a festive touch.
- Serve: Slice into bars and serve immediately if you enjoy a softer frosting, or chill the bars briefly to set the frosting before serving.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for easy creaming.
- Do not overmix the dry ingredients to keep the bars tender.
- Baking time is brief; watch carefully to prevent overbaking.
- Use parchment paper or foil with overhang for easy removal from the pan.
- Chilling the bars helps the frosting firm up for cleaner slices.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approx. 2×2 inches)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
